He parked his car outside the masjid and leaned back in his seat. Worry lines were etched all over his forehead and just from one glance, one could easily conclude that Hisham Hosseini was stressed.

Very stressed.

He passed his hand over his beard in frustration as guilt consumed him. How could he have talked to Baba like that? Since when had he become so rude? And on top of it all, he had even walked out on them.

Great.

Forget Baba, what would Yasir be thinking of him?

He knew that his younger brother looked up to him but today he had done nothing worth looking up to.

He felt ashamed of himself. But he had had no other option. His outburst had been like a reflex. A protective reflex for his child. For his little baby girl.

His father's decision was not something unexpected for him, in fact deep down right from his childhood, he had always known that he was the one who would take over his father's company. He had made so many plans for that day as well.

First of all, he had planned to treat all employees to free pizza every Monday. That would have been the best way to beat everyone's Monday phobia including himself. Starting the week with free pizza was the best thing he could think of.

Secondly that office. He had imagined himself, Yasir and Khaleel eating their lunch there everyday laughing their heads off. Something similar to today but the difference would have been that they would have no fear of Hitler walking in because then, it would be his office. Hisham Hosseini's office.

The most awesome office. The fun office.

He smiled to himself. Guess he still had too look for a cool name for his office. But then again that would no longer be required. He could never take the position of Ceo. Not for now or for the next three years or so.

Why?

Because he planned on giving all his time and attention to his little Ameera. Yes, he had already thought of her name as well. Ameera meant princess and she would be his princess for sure.

A princess needed love and attention, something he was sure Zulekha would never give their child. So that left only him. Then how could he have accepted to take up the most important and stressful post in the company? He just could not.

And that is why he had decided to give it up.

Just like that.

He raked his hand through his dark hair as he thought of Zulekha.

His wife.

But wife was the last thing she had been. The woman had not even for a second, shown him any love or care and she was doing the same for their child as well.

Already.

She was being so negligent with her pregnancy that he was the one who had to remind her on a daily basis to take her iron supplement tablets and her folic acid. He was the one who had to push her to go get her pregnancy vaccines. He was the one who tried to ensure that she ate healthy and pregnancy friendly food. He was the one who did everything and he knew that it would all be the same even after the delivery.

That is why he had rejected the one post he had always dreamed of and unfortunately for him, he could not even tell his family members as to why he had rejected it.

No he couldn't.

Why?

Because Zulekha didn't want him to. She apparently wanted him to throw her a large party in which she would announce her pregnancy.

He shook his head in disbelief. What were they? Royals?

He had never heard of such a thing. Pregnany was something delicate and intimate and he didn't get Zulekha's point of view. As always. Sometimes he thought that she had only married him because he was a Hosseini. But why would she do that? Her father was also very rich, so it definitely had not been for money. But then why?

He let out a sigh as he opened the car door. There were some questions that would always remain unanswered, he guessed and he didn't want to waste his energy thinking about them.

He entered the masjid and made his way to a silent corner.

It was time he poured his heart out to his Creator. The One who listened and the only One who knew what he was going through.

He quietly prayed, most of his heartfelt dua being for his future. His future with little Ameera.

A future in which he hoped there would be ease.

A lot of it.

Yumnah sighed as she folded her husband's last shirt. He been absent minded since he had come back from work and had hardly even talked to her. He had not even asked her about the necklace he had sent which was currently tightly clasped around her neck.

Forever.

"Maybe you should call him, Habibi," she said after a while.

She knew of what had happened since Baba had been shouting his head off at the dining table throughout dinner.

"I have Yumnah, but his phone is switched off ," said Yasir as he sat up on the bed worry evident on his face.

His Akhi's outburst had surprised him. It was unexpected and it was totally unlike Hisham. Something was wrong somewhere and he planned to find out what.

"My love, do you think that maybe he just doesn't want that position? Maybe Baba is forcing him into it?"

"Not at all Yumnah. Akhi always wanted to be Ceo, in fact he had so many things planned out you know. He always threatened Khaleel that he would fire him first," said Yasir and he smiled when he heard his wife laugh.

"I know that something is wrong. I just need to talk to him. Thats it."

"Hmm, then why don't you go to his house?"

"How can I go? I can't drive and anyway Baba is really mad right now, he would never allow me to go," said Yasir, a frown on his face. He had never felt so helpless.

Yumnah smiled as she moved closer to him and kissed him on his forehead. Immediately his deep frown disappeared.

"Well, there is always a plan B, Habibi."

"Really? And what is plan B, if I may ask?

A mischevious grin covered Yumnah's face before she whispered...

"Just wait and watch Habibi."

"

******

It was late into the night and all the lights had been switched off in the Hosseini mansion.A pindrop silence reigned the mansion since everyone had retired to bed. Well everyone, except for Yasir and Yumnah who were currently trying to find their way down the stairs in the dark.

Yasir tightly held on to his wife's delicate hand as he waited for her to find the first stair.

"Yumnah why can't you just use a torch?"

"Its no fun Yasir. Finding our way in the darkness is way more cooler," she whispered.

Yasir shook his head in disbelief. He had married a crazy woman for sure. He of all people knew exactly how difficult it was to find one's way in the dark and he could swear that there was nothing cool about it.

But then there was Yumnah. The weird one.

"Found the first step my love. Now hold on tight," she whispered and Yasir didn't miss the hint of excitement in her voice.

"You don't have to tell me twice and are you sure that there is no stair that creaks?" he asked. He still could not believe that he was doing this.

"Oh come on Yasir, this is not a horror movie."

"It seems like one to me, now if only you could switch on that torch. We can't be two blind people trying to find their way down the stairs Yumnah."

"Relaaaaaaax Habibi. I got this under control and this is one of the stories you will get to tell our grandchildren, " said Yumnah as she struggled to find the next stair.

"That is if i live to see my own children and at this rate, i highly doubt it."

"Yasir, just shush," she said still clearly struggling.

She had never known that it would be this difficult to manouvre in the dark. How did Yasir manage to do this everyday without complaining?

As soon as they reached the bottom of the staircase, she hugged him and lifted his hand to kiss it.

"We made it my love. We made it," she whispered excitedly.

"Yes that felt like some war," Yasir replied sarcastically.

Wallahi Yumnah was not normal. It had taken them around twenty minutes to just go down the stairs. How ridiculous.

He held on to his breathe as he heard her open the main door. If Hitler caught them, they were as good as dead.

"Now for the bus," said Yumnah as soon as they were safely outside.

"And I'm going to get on the bus like a normal person. I have no plans of running after it," said Yasir as he crossed his hands over his chest.

"What? Of course we are running after it. Its our thing, okay?"

"Nope!"

"Please Yasir.

"No."

"For me, pleaaaase?"

"Fine," he finally huffed. He knew that he would have to run after it whether he liked it or not.

"I love you Yasir."

"I love my Akhi more thats the only reason I'm here with you right now," he replied.

Yumnah laughed as she took his hand and slowly led him towards the bus stop which luckily for them, was not far off from the mansion.

"Okay Habibi, get ready to run," she said as soon as she saw the bus pull up.

"Yeah, just don't leave my hand Yumnah," he said excitement beginning to course through him as well. This was kind of fun, but he would never tell that to his wife. Never.

As soon as the bus began pulling away, Yumnah gave him a slight tug and immediately began running, her husband right behind her, hot on his heels.

They got on the bus both breathless, only to find a smiling Sam on the driver's seat.

"My my kiddo, you will never change will you?" he asked laughing.

"No Sam, never," she replied she too laughing as her eyes scanned the bus for seats. Unfortunately for them, there were only two seats remaining and they were not next to each other.

She quickly helped Yasir to a seat which was next to an elderly lafy while she herself took a seat next to some young kid.

It took Yasir a while to catch his breathe afterwhich he leaned back on the seat and closed his eyes. Man, he really needed to start working out if wanted to keep up with Yumnah his entire life.

"Mind if i ask you something young man?" asked the old lady sitting beside him.

Yasir quickly opened his eyes and sat up straight.

"Not at all Maam. What would you like to ask?" he asked confusedly.

"Is that you're wife or you're girlfriend?"

"She is my wife."

He heard the lady gasp beside him and he smiled to himself. Why did he feel like he was going to enjoy this?

"My oh my. Was it an arranged marriage or did you two fall in love?"

Yasir held back his laugh. Who was this woman anyway?

"I was forced to marry her, so you could take it as arranged," he said trying to pull off a very sad face.

"Oh you poor boy. I could clearly guess from the way she made you run after the bus. You poor thing. Keep strong," said the old lady her heart clearly going out to him.

Before he could reply, the bus stopped and he felt Yumnah's hand on his.

"Our stop is here Habibi," she said as she helped him up.

"Pray for me," said Yasir to the old lady before he began following Yumnah a really big goofy like grin on his face.

That had been hilarious.

"Why was that old lady sitting next to you shooting daggers at me?" Yumnah asked him as soon as they got off the bus.

"No idea."

"I saw you talking to her Yasir."

"Well, she was only asking me a few questions," he said smiling.

"Like what?"

"Like if you are my girlfriend or my wife?"

Yumnah turned to look at the bus which was now speeding away. Was that woman blind or what? Couldn't she see the big ring on his finger?

"Hmm and what did you reply?" she asked as they began walking in the direction of Hisham's house.

"Of course wife. You can't be my girlfriend."

"Huh? And why can't I be you're girlfriend?" she asked her hand on her hip.

"You don't qualify."

Yasir used all his might to not burst out in laughter. He was so enjoying this.

"Really?"

"Yeah you know girlfriends are just something else. Not like you Yumnah. Oh yeah, you wouldn' t know. Il explain it to you someday. If i get time."

"I don't want to know even," she said and Yasir could sense jealousy and bit of hurt in her voice.

"Yumnah listen..."

"No its fine. I don't want to know Yasir."

"Yumnah," he said as he pulled her towards him and tightly held on to both her hands.

"Im just joking okay. Now keep quiet and listen. A woman like you cannot be a girlfriend Yumnah because an amazing woman like you is only meant to be a wife. Yasir Hosseini's wife." he said followed by an "Alhamdullilah."

"But if you still want to be my girlfriend, you can still ask me out."

"I just might say yes."

" You wish," said Yumnah blush evident on her cheeks.

"But you know what Yasir?" she said smiling.

"What?"

"We are still kind of a boyfriend and a girlfriend. We snuck out together late into the night. Isn't that what girlfriends and boyfriends do?" she asked.

"No, Yumnah. This is not that but rather this is what they call halaal love," he said smiling.

"Halaal love it is."

"Or dating. This turned out to be more of a halal date. You could just have asked me out directly Yumnah, i would have said yes. Must you always complicate things?"

"Pssht, you wish. I would never ask you out."

"Why?" he asked confusedly.

"Because you also don't qualify."

"Just shut up. I'm awesome okay?" he said though laughing.

They continued bickering on the quiet empty street until they reached Hisham's house. Yumnah rang the doorbell and minutes later, the door was opened by a very sleepy Hisham.

Hisham stared at his younger brother and Stupid Yusra in shock. Wait, wasn't it like midnight or something?

What the hell was...

"Happy birthday Hisham. Sorry we didn't bring you a gift, we are kind of broke right now," said Yumnah cheerfully and Yasir couldn't help but laugh.

Hisham rolled his eyes as Yasir continued laughing. His birthday was still five months away.

What were these two doing at his doorstep at this time of the night and that too with no signs of transport. How did they even get here?

What on earth was going on?

*******